Picking purr-fect cat toys

Gatito, Tony and Missy are into the double digits in years, but they’re still as playful as kittens.We have baskets and boxes of toys around the house, accumulated over the years. Some of these toys are well-worn and well-loved treasures. Other toys, well, hiss! My cats don’t seem to like them at all and will look at me with questioning furry faces as if to say, “What on earth did you buy that dumb thing for?” Thus, I have learned a few important guidelines as to what makes a cat toy terrific and what pleases finicky felines.–and Gatito, who often sits on my lap as I sit at my computer, suggests that I share this knowledge with you so that you won’t waste money on silly or potentially dangerous stuff because money is very hard to come by these days.

Purr-haps the most important guideline to successful toy buying: The item doesn’t have to be expensive to be a kitty pleaser. A simple rubber ball, neither too small nor too large, can bring hours of “bat it around the room” enjoyment. Gatito will fetch like a dog if I encourage him and am willing to toss and toss and toss.

.A feather on a string –either a homemade effort or a store-bought version can inspire the most sedentary and sedate feline to have some fun and games with you. Ditto, a wand with something flexible and wiggly attached. To Kitty it will look like a really-truly insect. Oh, the joy of stalking such a toy, And you’ll have fun, too. It’s ideal for bonding pet and person.

Of course, you can’t be there all the time to toss balls, wave wands and play with your cat. No.,.you have to work in order to earn gourmet kibbles and treats. So, your little fuzz face will often have to self-entertain. But not to worry. Cats are masters at doing this. Stuff a brown paper bag with tempting tissue paper and hide a catnip mouse in the interior. No cat can resist knocking the bag over, hunting inside and reveling in the crinkly sound that results. (Brown paper bags that they can dive into or hide inside have proven to be my kitties’ all-time favorite toys.) Granted, when you come home from work you’ll be greeted by tissue paper all over the house and a shredded bag–but that just proves your feline has had a very good play session.

Soft little toys stuffed with catnip also make for happy playtime. You can find these items almost everywhere you shop, including the grocery store. Some cats will respond more to catnip than others, making absolute furry fools of themselves over the scent. Others may not think it’s that great. But Gatito, Tony and Missy, who find catnip kind of fun, think your feline might turn out to be a catnip fan. And it’s certainly worth a try just to see the crazy antics.

How about those little laser lights and mice that are battery operated? Honestly, my cats aren’t fond of them and will dive right under the bed if I bring such toys out of the box. Gatito, Tony and Missy aren’t really into all the new technology. They prefer the good old-fashioned and time-tested stuff that cats have been playing with for decades.

The most important thing to remember about cat toys: they MUST be safe. No small parts that can easily be chewed off. No dangerous little bells that can be swallowed. No sparkly stuff that can cut little mouths and wreak havoc with kitty tummies. Look closely at every toy before you buy and if it looks the least bit dangerous, don’t take chances.

Another warning: Don’t leave interactive toys around if you aren’t going to be there. A cat can get tangled up in such an item and be injured.(Missy once got tangled up in a long felt-snake toy and I discovered the situation just in time.) Interactive toys are great but as their designation indicates, they require people to be there to monitor the situation. So, pick up such playthings after a romp with Kitty and leave only the safest stuff where curious paws can grab it. A soft and sturdy felt mouse, a well-made crinkle ball, a nice cat tree to climb, a pillow to hide under–there are plenty of toys that won’t pose a threat to your precious pet. They may not be fancy, costly or the sort of clever things that attract attention on the store shelves. But so what? When it comes to pet safety, it never pays to play around.